Device for treating fabrics



M. R. MEYER l 633,624

DEVICE FOR TREATING FABRICS Filed Sept. 27, 1949 April 7', 1953 INVENTORl BY Mer/e ayer E@ 214m AT1-Q RNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1953 `ofthe fabric.

Ye a further 'bje'ct'of this inventionis to profi. u 2,633,624

alter the interengaged yarns and lfibers of the fabric in a manner tosubstantially reproduce the original appearance and condition thereof.

A garment or fabric shows a worn appearance when the constituent yarnsand fibers become compacted and distorted so as to lose their originalconfiguration. Also, when the original interrelation of the adjacentyarns is altered, a Worn appearancemay result. In the 'case 'of fabricshavingfan original nap or pile, any loss or diminution thereof, isreadily perceptible and gives a threadbare, Worn appearance to thegarment or fabric. Original color effects in fabrics are materiallyaltered by a change in the physical condition of the individual yarns asWell as their relative disposition in the fabric. Colors in fabrics tendto become dull when the fibers are compacted and when they loose theirnap. This becomes quite apparent in mono-colored fabrics as Well as inmixed shade fabrics.

This invention may be practiced on fabrics of various Itypes includingthose having Woolen, cotton, silk and synthetic fiber bases. While theinvention is particularly applicable to fabrics having napped or piledsurfaces, it also has been found to be useful in connection withunnapped fabrics.

As illustrated in Figs. -1 and 2, means is provided for treatinggarments or fabrics in accordance with the invention. Such meanscomprises a rectangular shaped, open frame ID which is made up ofhorizontally and vertically disposed, elongated members interconnectedby means of Suitable fittings. On one of the horizontal members I I isfixed a substantially rectangular shaped base member I2. The oppositeends of member II are journalled in aligned T fittings I3 which formpart of frame I0. The base member I2 is thus adapted to be revolved toany desired position. A flange I4 is fixed on the horizontal portion offitting I3 and a similar flange l5 is fixed to member II inwardly of theright hand journalled end thereof. The flanges I4, I5 are in .contactingrelation and are formed with registerapplied to the outer surface ofbase member I2 and is secured thereto by means of adhesive or the like.

On another horizontal member I8 of frame I0,

vwhich is disposed above base member I2, is

mounted a lighting fixture I9 for illuminating the work positioned onthe base member. The xture I9 may be slidably mounted on member I8. Onanother horizontal member 20 of frame I Il, disposed atthe top thereof,is mounted a motor 2 I. The motor 2| is resiliently mounted on member 20by means of spring members 22 which may be attached at their upper endsto member 2B in any desired position along member 2B. A flexible shaft23 extends from motor 2|, with a rotary type brush 24 detachablyattached to the terminal end thereof. Brushes 25, 2S which vary as todiameter, bristle type and the like, may be suspended from member 20 forselective use in lieu of brush 24.

A-spraying device 21 of a conventional type,

which is operated by means of compressed air, is

4 provided for carrying and applying lubricating compositions to thegarment or fabric 'being treated. Such device includes a exible air line28 which is adapted to be attached to an air compressor or compressedair tank, not shown. The device 2'I may be hung from member I8 by meansof a clip, when not in use.

While the base member I2 may comprise a core of a rigid nature, to whichthe resilient facing II is attached, alternatively-the core may be of anexpansible nature. As shown in Fig. 3, the core may take the form of aninflatable member 29, to which the facing II is secured. The core may beinflated by suitable means. It is understood that the core member ofbase I2 may be made expansible by means of inserts, screws or the like.'Ihe base may be contoured to complement the contours of the garmentpositioned thereon.

A Worn garment or fabric which is to be treated, is examined todetermine the nature of the fabric and weave, to determine the specificnature and extent of the treatment required. The garment need not be drycleaned inasmuch as the treatment has some cleaning action and thegarment is usually dry cleaned at the end of the treatment. Afterexamination, the garment may be brushed and vacuumed to remove dust orother foreign matter.

The garment is then positioned on thekbase member I2 with its innersurfaces in contact with the resilient facing I'I. Localized areas ofthe garment which show the greatest degree of wear, such as pockets,collars, cuffs, lapels, hems and the like, are sprayed With an aqueoussolution containing a detergent, -by means of spraying device 21.

The sponge rubber facing I'I may .be of the open pore type or of theclosed pore type with a highly irregular or rugose surface. In eithercase, the irregularity of the facing tends to retain the overlyinggarment against lateral movement during the subsequent treatmentthereof.

While the garment is supported on the base I 2, the sprayed localizedareas of the garment are subjected to the action of rotary brush 24which is moved across the areas in different directions. The brush 24,which may be provided 4with bristles of nylon and of suitable length,lneness and flexibility, engages the fibers of the garment in a mannerto rearrange and to alter the physical condition thereof. Compactedfibers are loosened and their original configuration is substantiallyrestored. If the fabric is of the nap type, a brush is selected Whichwill raise anap on the fabric.

The action of the brush relative to the fabric, is controlled and madeeffective by the solution applied to the fabric and by the resilientfacing which supports the fabric. The facing appears to render theaction of the brush uniform and to minimize the tearing or abradingeffect of the bristles. This may be due to the absorption of the shockproduced by the mechanical engagement of the individual bristles withthe fibers of the fabric. With the proper selection of the brush to beused, and proper manipulation thereof, it has been found that the Wornareas of the garment are quickly and eiiiciently restored tosubstantially their original appearance and condition. The brushingoperation is followed by a drying operation which removes the residualmoisture in the fabric.

ment, including areas of lesser wear, may be treated to renew thegarment as a whole. Thus, the entire surface of the garment may besprayed and then subjected to the brushing action while supported onbase l2. The rounded edges and corners on the base, as well as theadjustment of position thereof, facilitates both the spraying andbrushing action, particularly with respect to selected areas of thegarment. The treatment may be applied to successive sections of thegarment or to the entire garment, depending on the overall area thereof.Upon conclusion of the treatment, the garment is inspected and drycleaned in a conventional manner.

The brushes used in treating garments or fabric, in accordance with theinvention may have their bristles extending radially or otherwise fromthe brush hub. The bristles may be arranged in spiral rows or in anyother suitable manner. It is understood that reciprocally operatedbrushes, as well as hand manipulated brushes, may be used in lieu of therotary brush shown. When a single brush is used, the operator maymanipulate the same in a manner to provide brush action in differentdirections relative to the surface of the fabric, thus treating thefibers of the fabric in different directions. Alternatively, a pluralityof brushes rotating simultaneously in opposite directions may be used.Such an arrangement of brushes avoids drag of the fabric in onedirection and accelerates the treatment. Brushes having wire bristles orbristles of fiber other than nylon may be successfully used inconnection with selected types of fabric. In any case, the resilientfacing underlying the garment or fabric controls and otherwise increasesthe brushing emciency of the bristles. y

When treating fabrics substantially devoid of nap originally, thebrushing action in conjunction with the resilient facing on the basemember is highly effective in loosening the yarns and fibers from theircompacted condition and restoring the flattened, distorted individualyarns to substantially their original physical condition and appearance.

The use of an aqueous solution containing detergents facilitates thetreatment by temporarily softening and lubricating the fabric fibers.Non-aqueous agents such as textile treating oils known in the art, whichare adapted to soften and lubricate the `fibers, may also be used. Ithas been found that the coaction of the brushing action and theresilient facing on the base member, in respect to the fabric beingtreated, is further modified by the presence of fiber lubricant wherebyto produce desired fabric effects quickly and in an efficient manner.

With the use of detergent containing solutions,

the fabric being treated is cleansed to a certain extent, particularlyas regards deep seated foreign material which is not readily removed bythe preliminary brushing and vacuuming operation or by conventional drycleaning procedures.

In the treatment of some fabrics, the application of a lubricating agentto the fabric may be omitted, satisfactory effects being obtained fromthe conjoint action of the brush and the resilient facing on the worksupport.

While the process herein disclosed is particularly applicable to worngarments and fabrics, it is understood that the treatment may also beaccorded to newly woven fabrics and new garments for the purpose ofnapping the same or loosening the original weave to a desired extent.Fabrics and garments also may be treated to selectively nappredetermined areas thereof.

The resilient facing material on base l2 may take the form of materialsother than sponge rubber. Combinations of synthetic or naturalrubber-like materials and fibrous reenforcing elements, as well asvarious natural and synthetic porous structures, having the desireddegree of resiliency, may be used as a facing for the base member I2.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a method and means, in whichthe several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above describedinvention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments aboveset forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth is tobe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent:

1. In a device for renewing garments including fabric havinginterengaged yarns in a compacted condition, comprising in combination,a resilient base having an irregular upper surface for supporting agarment, and means for brushing the exposed surface of the garment toloosen the fabric yarns thereof, the upper surface of said base beingadapted to retain said garment against lateral movement during thebrushing operation.

2. In a device for treating fabric, the combination of means forsupporting the fabric including an outer sheet of porous, resilientmaterial having an irregular outer surface, means for applying alubricant to the fabric and brush means for treating the lubricatedfabric while supported ond said resilient means.

3. In a device for treating fabric, the combination of a frame, a basemember adjustably mounted on said frame, a resilient porous facinghaving an irregular outer surface on said base member and brush meansfor treating fabric polsoitioned on the resilient facing of said basemem- 4`. In a device for treating fabric, the combination of anexpansible base member, a resilient porous facing having an irregularouter surface on said base member and brush means for treating fabricpositioned on the resilient facing of said base member.

MERLE R. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 889,851 Kazanjian June 2, 19081,225,671 Maussner May 8, 1917 1,304,281 Dunklee May 20, '1919 1,412,503Black et al Apr. 11, 1922 1,480,352 Suzuki Jan. 8, 1924 2,273,489 HolmesFeb. 17, '1942 2,327,492 Braun Aug. 24, 1943 2,490,981 Reiss et al. Dec.13, 1949 2,539,714 Young et al Jan. 30, 1951 ,2,539,715 Young et al.Jan. 30, 1951

